Cracked vintage tile worth saving?

Jennifer Adams, Special to the U-T

Jennifer Adams

Jennifer Adams

Jennifer Adams

Q: We just bought a beautiful all-original midcentury modern style home. Mostly it’s in great shape, but the tile in the bathroom is really gross! The grout is black in places (it’s white at the top), and there are some big cracks especially in the corners over the tub.

I want to redo this tile, but my husband thinks we should leave it because it is original to the house. What should we do?

Erin

A: Yikes, replace that cracked tile as soon as possible! The potential for mold, mildew and structural problems is very real, and not something to live with no matter how precious your husband thinks the original tile is. Even a museum dedicated to perfectly original midcentury modern houses would fix those problems.

Vintage homes look great, but you don’t need to be a slave to the era to enjoy the original charm. Finishes and structures have a life span. Sometimes it’s possible to make a few easy repairs to make tile look like new, but it sounds like yours is well past its prime.

If you want to keep the look of the original tile, take measurements and shop for something similar. Also, visit your neighbors’ homes. It’s likely the builder who built your house built theirs, too, and your neighbors probably faced similar issues.

Take the opportunity to upgrade plumbing, electrical and lighting if needed, and add a ventilation fan. If you have the room, consider other changes that would make the bath more livable, such as a double vanity, bigger shower or a clerestory window.

But don’t go too crazy. A gigantic spalike bath with a jetted tub and double shower would seem out of scale for a vintage home with traditionally small rooms. You’ll get an original feel and potentially save money by making the bath as functional as you can within its own footprint.

It’s OK to upgrade and massage things to make a vintage home more livable by today’s standards. Send pictures. I’d love to see what you choose!